COVID-19 – Proof of vaccination and considering mandatory vaccination for faculty and staff

This email was sent to all fall graduate and undergraduate students at 5:10pm on October 7.

This email is sent on behalf of Catherine Dauvergne, vice-president academic and provost. It has been sent to all students, faculty and staff.

Earlier this week, the B.C. government announced mandatory vaccination for public service employees, and made it possible for post-secondary institutions to consider doing the same. While we determine if mandating vaccination for faculty and staff is right for SFU, we must stay focused on the safety of our entire community.

To support this, I am announcing today that in addition to declaring your vaccination status, everyone must also upload proof of vaccination. We are designing new options for those who do not want to provide proof through the digital platform, so that every member of our community has a way to declare that meets their needs and protects their privacy. We will simultaneously launch an audit of submissions to ensure accuracy.

Through the mandatory self-declaration process we will have accurate and more complete data about the current vaccination rates of our community. The process allows us to reach individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated and support them to get vaccinated. Reaching the highest possible rate of vaccination is our goal, and I believe an individual, supportive approach will get us there. We are closely monitoring our progress and will consider whether making vaccination mandatory for faculty and staff is required. We will make that determination based on our data, and will move forward, if required, once we have more information.

I have included additional updates on specific topics related to our return to campus below. Thank you for your support in ensuring a safe campus community for everyone.  

Dr. Catherine Dauvergne, QC
Vice-President, Academic and Provost
Simon Fraser University

Returning to Campus

For the latest updates on policies, protocols, and procedures around COVID-19 (mask guidelines, vaccine status declaration, getting tested, FAQs, and more) please see our Return to Campus page.

Mental health and wellness resources

It is important that we continue to take care of ourselves and others during this transition. If you or someone you know needs support, access the wellness and mental health resources available.